Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Columbia?

Yes. Columbia requires Short-Term Rental Permit, and the fee is $250. Columbia requires an annual Short-Term Rental Permit plus a city business license for every unit rented under 30 days, with fees of $100/year (owner-occupied) or $250/year (non-owner-occupied) plus a $50 application fee. After a June 2025 moratorium (repealed March 3, 2026), amended rules allow STRs in all commercial and mixed-use districts, but new non-owner-occupied STRs in residential districts are limited to streets with at least four through lanes classified as arterial or collector; owner-occupied STRs are exempt from the location restriction. Enforcement uses a points system ($100 per point) with permit revocation at 15 points in 12 months, plus a $500-per-day administrative penalty for operating without a permit or leaving violations uncorrected after 15 days' notice, and the September 2025 amendments raised the minimum booking age from 18 to 21.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Columbia?

The Short-Term Rental Permit fee in Columbia is $250, renewed annual. Annual STR permit registration fee is $250.00 per dwelling unit for non-owner-occupied STRs (the typical investor case) or $100.00 for owner-occupied STRs, plus a non-refundable $50 application fee each year. The city also lists a $10 annual zoning review fee. Renewal applications submitted after July 1 incur a $100 late fee; a city business license (fee varies by gross income) is also required.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Columbia, SC (2026)

Columbia requires Short-Term Rental Permit — the fee is $250, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental Permit
Permit fee	$250
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. Under the January 2026 ordinance amendments, STRs are allowed in all commercial and mixed-use zoning districts. In residential base zoning districts, new non-owner-occupied STRs are only allowed on streets with at least four through lanes (excluding turn lanes) that are classified as major arterial, minor arterial or collector on the city's transportation maps. On March 3, 2026 council amended the Unified Development Code to exempt owner-occupied STRs from these location restrictions. STR permits issued before the amendments are grandfathered and may continue operating regardless of zoning district. Per the city's Planning & Development STR page, STRs are permitted without additional restriction in Mixed-Use, Activity Center/Corridor, Commercial and Employment Campus districts (Ord. 2025-107), with the owner-occupied exemption adopted as Ord. 2026-013. Two designated parking spaces per dwelling unit are required within residential districts; all STR parking must be off-street or on-site, with an administrative exemption available from the police chief where the lot cannot meet the requirement.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Permit
Submit the Short-Term Rental Permit application to Columbia and pay the $250 fee. Annual STR permit registration fee is $250.00 per dwelling unit for non-owner-occupied STRs (the typical investor case) or $100.00 for owner-occupied STRs, plus a non-refundable $50 application fee each year. The city also lists a $10 annual zoning review fee. Renewal applications submitted after July 1 incur a $100 late fee; a city business license (fee varies by gross income) is also required.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Columbia. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Columbia changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Columbia for changes →

Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime

Keep going

Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Columbia before applying.

Spot an error? Report an issue